Alumni Lunch Series: Lessons in Leadership

Alumni panellists at Harvest

Our Alumni Lunch Series event, Lessons in Leadership, took place in August 2024 at Harvest Newrybar in the Northern Rivers. The panel event brought together some of our notable Southern Cross alumni to discuss and reflect on their own personal experiences in leadership.

Through a panel session moderated by Professor David Heilpern, Jules Allen, Sharon Styman and Jonathan Freeman unpacked their own challenges and successes within their varying roles and industries, along with what leadership means to them, how they balance their work in a way that supports their mental health and wellbeing and how they feel others can emerge as leaders within their own communities, professions and day-to-day lives.

Panellists

One of the 2017 Alumni award winners, Jules Allen

Jules Allen

Award winning youth advocate and motivational speaker

An award-winning youth advocate with a truly moving story. Jules has co-hosted the television show 'Studio 10', written editorials for the Herald Sun, blogged for parenting websites and presented a TED Talk. She featured on ABC's Australian Story and has been widely acknowledged for her commitment and dedication to a life of service.

Sharon Styman sitting on the grass smiling

Sharon Styman

Deputy Chair, Twin Towns Clubs & Resorts

Sharon’s vast experience spans almost 20 years, working with scores of business owners, assisting with auditing and strategic planning, and developing foundations from which young businesses could grow and prosper. Sharon was elected as the first female board member at Twin Towns, and has recently been announced the Deputy Chair.

Jonathan at Club Active

Jonathan Freeman

CEO and Founder, Club Active

Jonathan Freeman is the Founder and CEO of Club Active, one of Australia’s leading over-50s health and fitness exercise physiology clinics. The organisation’s mission is ‘to change the way our members age’ through individually tailored exercise programs led by university-qualified allied health professionals. As an accredited exercise physiologist, he encourages others to create a lasting positive impact on health and wellbeing.

Professor David Heilpern profile pic

Professor David Heilpern (Moderator)

Clinical Professor, Faculty of Business, Law and Arts, Southern Cross University

David Heilpern was a Magistrate and judicial trainer from 1998 to 2020. Prior to this appointment, David was a litigation lawyer on the North Coast where he co-founded the law school at SCU in 1992, David graduated with a Masters in Law from SCU and was the Alumni of the Decade in 2005. In August 2022 was appointed as a Dean and Chair of Discipline (Law) at SCU. David is passionate about legal education, seeking to ensure that students are stimulated, excited and fulfilled.

Meet our Notable Alumni

Lucas Handley with a child on his shoulders

Meet our 2024 Alumni Impact Award winners

Jess at the hospital

Alumni Benefits

Georgia sitting outside her work

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